CHAPTER 226: CHAPTER 226 HUMAN-FACED FOX

Three days later, suitable for travel, suitable for the wedding!

Wanfu County and Qingyao County both belong to Yaozhou, and the two counties are adjacent, connected by a main road. For the average person, it is a day’s journey.

Thus, everyone gathered at the east gate of Wanfu County early in the morning to set off, covering a day’s journey to arrive at Qingyao County by nightfall.

Huangfu Xu had already set off in advance and booked an inn in Qingyao County for the night. When everyone arrived in the evening, they stayed overnight at the inn.

Early the next morning, they went to the Xu Family to pick up the bride, aiming to return by mid-3 PM and host the wedding ceremony at the Huangfu Family that night.

Proceeding forward, the groom, Huangfu Ning, rode a tall horse at the front, followed by a troupe of performers playing gongs and drums. Next came four palanquin bearers carrying an empty flower palanquin, and finally, there were two carriages. One carried items needed for the bride’s welcome, and the other was Lu Zheng’s carriage.

"It’s fortunate that the two counties are relatively close, or else we would have had to stay overnight on the road, complicating matters needlessly."

Inside the carriage, Huangfu Jing explained the itinerary to Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan, "Even so, tomorrow’s journey will be quite rushed, and we might not make it back until 5 p.m."

"That will just be in time for the banquet," Liu Qingyan remarked. "Have any guests been invited?"

Huangfu Jing shook her head, "Just a few familiar friends."

"Then there is no issue."

"Hmm." Huangfu Jing nodded, focusing her attention on Lu Zheng’s carriage.

"Lu Lang, your carriage is really remarkable; it doesn’t jolt at all." Huangfu Jing watched the teacup on the small table in the carriage, which, despite the occasional sway, showed no sign of spilling.

"I added a few things to make the journey more comfortable," Lu Zheng replied with a smile.

Not knowing how to explain the springs, he glossed over it.

However, Huangfu Jing, impressed yet confused, assumed Lu Zheng might have used some talisman or spell, refraining from inquiring further despite feeling no magical power.

The procession sped along, arriving at Qingyao County right at mid-3 PM.

...

Fulai Inn.

The group of nearly twenty people was accommodated at the inn for a night’s rest.

The night passed without event, except for an unidentified person’s cry of pain after slipping while visiting the latrine at midnight.

...

The next day, fetching the bride!

The band set off from the inn, quickly exiting the city to reach the Xu Family Manor in the suburbs.

It was evident that the Xu Family was even more integrated with humans than the Huangfu Family, given that the Xu Manor was closer to Qingyao County than Huangfu Manor was to Wanfu County.

Knock on the door!

Sing praises!

Offer blessings!

Fetch the bride!

After a full hour of various ceremonies, the bride was finally welcomed out of the door and invited into a large, colorfully decorated flower palanquin.

Then it was time to return to Wanfu County.

Lu Zheng was not required to do anything, nor did anyone dare to ask him to; he just watched the lively proceedings the whole time.

Honestly, it was like watching a movie, with all the drumming and bustling excitement.

But while he watched with the demeanor of a gentleman, Huangfu Jing and Liu Qingyan were busy running around, attending to everything.

It wasn’t until the wedding procession began the return trip that the two finally relaxed in the carriage.

"Much appreciated for all your hard work!" Lu Zheng cheerfully poured tea for the two.

Seeing Lu Zheng personally serve tea, Huangfu Jing looked at him in astonishment, then glanced at Liu Qingyan with a look full of appreciation.

Liu Qingyan smiled sweetly, eyes curving as she accepted the tea from Lu Zheng and took a sip, feeling a sweetness in her heart.

"We’re holding the wedding ceremony once we return home, right?" Lu Zheng asked.

Huangfu Jing responded, "Indeed, everything at home is ready."

Lu Zheng nodded, familiar with the proceedings from having witnessed a similar event at the River God’s Mansion before.

...

By mid-3 PM, everyone had reached the outskirts of Wanfu County, just a few miles from Huangfu Manor when suddenly...

"Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

A Daoist incantation rang out from the front of the procession.

...

Someone blocked the road, and it was someone from the Daoist Sect?

Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed, and he opened the carriage door before stepping down.

Two Daoists, one old and one young, in gray Daoist robes, stood at the front of the procession, blocking the way.

The little Daoist looked about thirteen or fourteen years old, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, appearing quite clever. The old Daoist wasn’t actually old, with a gaunt face and fully black hair, looking about fifty or so.

At that moment, the old Daoist was holding a stick of incense, the smoke swirling in a straight line towards the procession, dispersing gently not far ahead.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of having two Daoists block our way?" Huangfu Xu dismounted and stepped forward, asking with a sincere clasp of hands.

He remained composed, knowing there was a Mystic Sect disciple behind him, and the Daoist’s approach to demons was generally amicable.

"Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

The old Daoist took a look around Huangfu Xu, then shifted his gaze to the entourage behind him, frowning as he asked, "May I ask where your group is coming from and heading to?"

Huangfu Xu replied, "We are coming from Qingyao County and going to Wanfu County."

"And... huh?"

The old Daoist hadn’t finished speaking when he saw a young scholar emerge from behind the carriage.

"Who might you be, fellow Daoist?"

"Lu Zheng, an outer disciple of White Cloud Temple, greets the senior!" Lu Zheng made his way through the entourage to stand beside Huangfu Xu, bowing to the old Daoist, and nodding at the young Daoist.

The old Daoist scrutinized Lu Zheng, who at that moment activated the "White Cloud’s Common Refining Qi Scripture," surrounding himself with Daoist Cloud Qi to reveal his identity.

"Infinite Celestial Venerable! Jiu Zhen from Fengyang Mountain greets the fellow Daoist."

"Liu Ning greets big brother!"

Lu Zheng nodded in acknowledgment, then said, "I am acquainted with the Huangfu Family, and as far as I know, the Huangfu Family has always acted benevolently towards others, offering aid to the neighbors without any ill deeds. May I ask, senior..."

Lu Zheng thought the old Daoist was here for the Huangfu Family.

"I’m here for a human-faced fox." Daoist Jiu Zhen said, "If there is a fellow Daoist to vouch for them, then it’s possible this old Daoist misunderstood. I suspected the family was covering for the human-faced fox."

"A human-faced fox!" Huangfu Xu exclaimed in fright.

"A human-faced fox?" Lu Zheng was taken aback.

"Indeed." Daoist Jiu Zhen said, "While passing through Luonan County, I encountered this wicked human-faced fox and intervened to subdue it. Unexpectedly, it had a treasure, and it managed to escape.

Fortunately, I had already captured its scent and pursued it here using the guiding incense. I just arrived.

However, the human-faced fox has now hidden within the entourage, and the guiding incense can’t identify it. This old Daoist initially thought this family fox was shielding the human-faced fox."

"No, no!" Huangfu Xu repeatedly waved his hands, "We don’t know any human-faced fox!"

Lu Zheng turned around suddenly, sweeping a glance over everyone in the procession.

All familiar faces.

"The human-faced fox’s innate ability is to kill and swallow the heart, then transform into the victim and continue life in their guise." Daoist Jiu Zhen gave a reminder.

"Skin Painting Technique?" Lu Zheng asked.

Daoist Jiu Zhen shook his head and said, "Not the Skin Painting Technique, but simply the Transformation Technique."